Kawhi Leonard hasn’t spoken publicly in months, as he last met with the media prior to his self-imposed exile from the Spurs to New York to rehab his quad injury.
In the time since then, Leonard made a trade request to the Spurs and had that request be granted in the form of a deal sending him to Toronto and DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio. Leonard popped up in Toronto to take a picture with Masai Ujiri after the trade was done and talk to the Raptors brass about playing for the team, but still avoided offering any public statements as Ujiri held the trade press conference alone.
On Thursday, Leonard broke his silence via a release and offered many thanks to the Spurs organization, his teammates, the fans, and Gregg Popovich for everything over the past seven seasons.
Kawhi Leonard releases first statements since trade to Toronto, saying goodbye to San Antonio and the Spurs: pic.twitter.com/XxSUEwbrQ6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 9, 2018
It is a nice gesture to San Antonio and, given Leonard’s quiet nature, it’s not surprising it comes by way of a written statement. That said, right now I don’t think Spurs fans are quite ready to forgive Kawhi for last season and the trade request. Spurs fans know that, despite adding DeRozan, their window to remain one of the West’s elite teams got shorter and in the process, Pop’s tenure is likely nearing its end.
Eventually there could be some reconciliation between the two sides and, for now, Kawhi and the Spurs are saying the right things about each other as they move forward after an awkward and messy breakup. Now, the most interesting thing remaining to see is when Leonard and the Raptors will make their visit to San Antonio next season and how the reception for Leonard will be.
